‘I’d rather fight here’ In July 1863, the Boston Irish rose up against the nation’s first draft action

By Peter F. Stevens, BIR Staff
June 28, 2018
Peter F. Stevens, BIR Staff

This month marks the 155th anniversary of a controversial and violent chapter in Boston’s annals. In July 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, the city’s Irish ignited draft riots when they rose up in rage against the class and ethnic unfairness of the nation’s first Conscription Act, which allowed “sons of wealth” to buy their way out of military service for $300, a sum far beyond the reach of impoverished Irish immigrant families.

Descending into the abyss of autocacy

By by Peter Stevens
June 27, 2018
by Peter Stevens

BY PETER F. STEVENS
BIR STAFF
Courtesy of President Donald Trump and willing and blindly unwitting supporters, the Arsenal of Democracy crumbles daily into the Abyss of Autocracy. Those red-and-white “MAGA” caps stand less for “Make America Great Again” than for “Make America Go Away.” Sadly, the GOP, the erstwhile party of Lincoln, is a party in name only. They’re the Whigs of the 21st century, morphing into the Trumpians, Trumpites, or whatever moniker reflecting their obeisance to the president will proclaim to history.

John Cullinane’s message: Democracy is in peril, and we have to save it

Ed Forry
By Ed Forry
June 27, 2018

By Ed Forry
The Boston business leader John Cullinane has long been a force in Democratic politics hereabouts. A longtime ally of Sen. Ted Kennedy, John and his wife Diddy hosted a reception here for the senator and Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams. And in 2008, he organized Boston Irish community support for Barack Obama. I was pleased to join with him in meeting with then-VP candidate Joe Biden to send a message to the Obama/Biden ticket that they should reach out to Irish-Americans. Then, just before the election, Cullinane led an Obama rally at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton.

An outpouring of love for dance artist Kieran Jordan

By Ed Forry
June 26, 2018
Ed Forry

The GoFundMe campaign to assist Irish dancer Kieran Joran continues to grow, with 389 donations totaling more than $32,000 in little over five weeks. Donations may be made online at this address: https://www.gofundme.com/kieran-jordan039s-healing-fund

In an update posted in mid-June, Kieran expressed her great thanks:

Galway author tells his city's story at Cambridge Library lecture

By Ed Forry
June 26, 2018
Ed Forry

The Cambridge Public Library was the location on June 14 for a presentation by William Henry, an author, archaeologist and preeminent historian of Galway Ireland.
Henry gave an illustrated lecture consisting of an overview of Galway based on some of his books. The lecture covered the history of Galway through the stone bronze and iron ages in the early Christian period; the founding of Galway city by the Normans; warfare with the native Irish and the rise of the trial of tribal families in the city; and the visit by Christopher Columbus to Galway in 1477.

Charitable Irish Society honors outgoing president

By Ed Forry
June 26, 2018
Ed Forry

Some two dozen members of the Charitable Irish Society gathered for lunch at the Harvard Club of Boston on Mon., June 25, at an appreciation luncheon for outgoing Society president Christopher Duggan and his assistant, Hilda Landry.
Incoming society present Carlton LaPorte joined with other board members and society supporters to honor Duggan and Landry for what he described as the “inestimable contributions they have both made and continue to make to the Charitable Irish society.

Charitable Irish Society honors outgoing president

By Ed Forry
June 26, 2018
Ed Forry

Some two dozen members of the Charitable Irish Society gathered for lunch at the Harvard Club of Boston on Mon., June 25, at an appreciation luncheon for outgoing Society president Christopher Duggan and his assistant, Hilda Landry.
Incoming society present Carlton LaPorte joined with other board members and society supporters to honor Duggan and Landry for what he described as the “inestimable contributions they have both made and continue to make to the Charitable Irish society.

John Boyle O’Reilly- His story will be told this weekend in Canton

By Ed Forry
June 12, 2018
Ed Forry

On June 16th , bard Sean Tyrrell will be at the ICC for a show in story & song on the life & times of John Boyle O’Reilly. John Boyle O’Reilly has a very strong connection to Boston, once he reached American he settled in Boston and is buried in Hollyhood cemetery in Brookline, MA

About Sean Tyrell- ‘If you’re lucky you come across a voice like Sean’s once in a lifetime’ ‘When he sings I feel alive” – Brenda Fricker
“The genuine article” – Billboard US
Tickets $25 / Members $20 Call 781-821-8291 (June 16 @ 7:30pm)

"Irish For Pride" to march in June 9th Boston Pride Parade

By BIR Newsroom
June 7, 2018
BIR Newsroom

The Consulate General of Ireland in Boston and the Irish International Immigrant Center along with the Irish and Irish-American community of New England, will march behind the banner ‘Irish For Pride’ in the Boston Pride Parade on Saturday 9th June 2018. It will be the first time that the Consulate and Irish organizations right across the New England region will come together to formally participate in the Boston Pride Parade, now in its 48th year.

"Irish For Pride" to march in June 9th Boston Pride Parade

By BIR Newsroom
June 7, 2018
BIR Newsroom

The Consulate General of Ireland in Boston and the Irish International Immigrant Center along with the Irish and Irish-American community of New England, will march behind the banner ‘Irish For Pride’ in the Boston Pride Parade on Saturday 9th June 2018. It will be the first time that the Consulate and Irish organizations right across the New England region will come together to formally participate in the Boston Pride Parade, now in its 48th year.

Pages

Subscribe to Boston Irish RSS